title: Systemic lupus erythematosus complicated with femoral head ischemic necrosis treated by Chinese medicine therapy for activating blood and dredging collaterals method.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect and mechanism of Chinese medicine therapy for activating blood and dredging collaterals (ABDC) on treating systemic lupus erythematosus complicated with avascular necrosis of the femoral head (SLE-ANFH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four patients (51 joints) with SLE-ANFH were assigned by a random number table to two groups: 22 patients (32 joints) in the treatment group and 12 patients (19 joints) in the control group. All received Western medical conventional treatment for anti-inflammation and immunosuppression, but an additional Chinese medicine decoction prescribed based on ABDC principle was administered to patients in the treatment group. The observation on the patients' condition and therapeutic effect lasted for 3 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients' conditions in the two groups, as assessed by Association for Research Circulation Osseous (ARCO) staging, were similar before treatment. After treatment, comparison between groups showed significant difference (P<0.05), and the raised Harris functional scores in the treatment group were higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). The post-treatment symptom improving rate in the treated group was 72.73%, which was higher than that in the control group (50.00%, P<0.05). Moreover, the former was superior in improving hematologic and hemorrheologic parameters in terms of prolonging activated partial thromboplastin time, lowering whole blood middle/low shear viscosity, and plasma viscosity (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Two patients in the control group but none in the treatment group received hip joint replacement operation during the observation period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chinese medicine ABDC therapy could effectively alleviate clinical symptoms and improve joint function of patients with SLE-ANFH. The mechanism may be related to its effects on improving high coagulation manner and trend for getting embolism.
authors.affiliation: Departement of Rheumatology, Immunology and Nephropathy, Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Hanghzhou 310003, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jian-Ning
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Xiao-Juan
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Tao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003097:Collateral Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005271:Femur Head Necrosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C559219:shentong zhuyu; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008775:Methylprednisolone